Additionally, spatial activity in the rodent hippocampus is strongly
modulated by continuous theta oscillations (5–12 Hz) during
locomotion [1]}, [2]}. The resulting `phase precession,'
a monotonic advance in timing from late to early within each theta
cycle, may enhance the precision and temporal organization of
spatial codes [3]}, [4]}, [5]}, [6]}
in ways that support decision-making and/or deliberative
planning during subsequent sleep or quiescent
states [7]}, [8]}, [9]}, [10]}, [11]}, [12]}.
Recently, in contrast to phase precession, we discovered a novel class of
spatial phase-coding neurons in open field environments termed `phaser cells'
that were located predominantly in the rat lateral septum and characterized by
a strong coupling of theta-phase timing to firing rates [13]}.
This coupling supports an intrinsic neuronal mechanism of phase-coding that may
theoretically transform spatial information to synchronize downstream targets
using the global theta oscillation [13]}. Accordingly, to examine
the effects of temporal phase organization, our dynamical swarm controller
considers each agent to have an internal phase variable (analogous to the
theta-phase of a place cell or phaser cell) that may interact via oscillatory
coupling with its neighbors' phases. Such oscillator-based swarming has been
previously generalized as the `swarmalators' framework [15]}.
Thus, together with attractor dynamics, these phenomena may provide brain-like
solutions to problems of decentralized self-organization and distributed
communication in autonomous swarming.
